State v. Rodriguez

The central issue in this appeal is whether a person who has an honest and reasonable belief that the use of deadly force is necessary to repel an assailant from inflicting on him death or serious bodily harm can be criminally liable for the reckless manslaughter of that assailant. Essentially, we must decide whether a valid self-defense claim and a reckless manslaughter conviction of an aggressor are mutually exclusive under the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice.

Defendant Wilberto Rodriguez was indicted for the first-degree purposeful or knowing murder of Anthony Hobbs, N.J.S.A.…